Field emission from awl-shaped diamond-like carbon by using filtered cathodic arc plasma technique on anodic aluminum oxide template

Abstract Awl-shaped diamond-like carbon (DLC) was directly grown on anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template by using filtered cathodic arc plasma (FCAP) technique at room temperature. The awls of DLC were about 250 nm in the height and the diameters of the awls were ∼100 nm at the top. The awl density was estimated to be ∼10 8  cm −2 . A broad asymmetric band ranging from 1100 to 1800 cm −1 was detected by Raman spectrum. This asymmetric band was characteristic band of DLC. The sp 3 /(sp 3 +sp 2 ) ratio of C–C bond of the awl-shaped DLC was measured by X-ray photoelectron spectrum, and it was about 68.3%. Field-emission properties of the awl-shaped DLC were investigated. A low turn-on field of 2.6 V/μm at 10 μA/cm 2 with an emission area of 3.14 mm 2 was achieved, and the emission current stability was very good. The results indicated that the electrons were emitted under both the effect of enhanced field because of the geometry and the work function of the DLC sample. Based on Fowler–Nordheim plot, the values of work function for the awl-shaped DLC were estimated in ranges of 0.23–1.08 from a linearity plot.